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§ 5.03

5.03.220 Development Standards Applicable to All Zones

Colma Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-08 · Colma

(a) There shall not be permitted any use which may be determined by the City Council to be obnoxious or offensive because of the presence or emission of odor, fumes, dust, gas, smoke, noise, bright lights, vibrations, pollution, detrimental sewer wastes, or have a detrimental effect on permissible adjacent uses, or will be hazardous by reason of danger of fire or explosion.

(b) In each zone there shall be provided at the time of the erection of any main building or at the time any main building is enlarged or increased in capacity, sufficient off-street parking accommodations with adequate provisions for ingress and egress by standard size automobiles. Parking access-ways, parking spaces and fire lanes shall all meet the minimum standards provided in Section 5.01.080 (Definitions) of this Code.

(c) The following uses are prohibited in all districts: amusement parks or centers, circuses, carnivals, outdoor theaters, race tracks, commercial recreation centers, stockyards, the slaughtering of animals.

(d) No person shall install, construct or maintain a fence or hedge on any property in the Town of Colma except in compliance with the following:

(1) General fence and hedge limitations:

(i) If cyclone fencing is used, it must be black vinyl clad with black painted posts and supports.

(ii) Fences shall be maintained in good repair and condition.

(iii) Hedge height limits in this section do not apply to taller landscaping planted immediately adjacent to building walls. Free standing trees are encouraged in all yard areas.

(iv) Fences with razor wire are not permitted in the Town of Colma.

(v) For corner lots, a vision triangle of 35' shall be maintained to insure safe visibility for motorists. The vision triangle shall be created by measuring along the curb line 35' in each direction from the street corner, with the endpoints connected across the lot. Within the vision triangle, no fencing or vegetation shall exceed three (3) feet in height and all tree canopies must be kept seven (7) or more feet above grade.

(vi) Any unimproved right-of-way (the area between the back of sidewalk and the front property line of any property) may contain landscape planting, irrigation and fencing.

(vii) The height of a fence shall be measured as the higher of the two sides of the fence.

(2) Fence and hedge limitations in all Residential Zones:

Page 120 of 170

March 2026

(i) No fence or hedge in excess of four (4) feet in height is allowed between the back of the sidewalk and front wall of any residence. An exception is permitted for a single, freestanding trellis structure not exceeding eight (8) feet in height, five (5) feet in width, and five (5) feet in depth. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security, pedestrian safety, to screen out undesirable views, or for other aesthetic reasons.

he sidewalk and front wall of any residence. An exception is permitted for a single, freestanding trellis structure not exceeding eight (8) feet in height, five (5) feet in width, and five (5) feet in depth. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security, pedestrian safety, to screen out undesirable views, or for other aesthetic reasons.

(ii) No fence or hedge in excess of six (6) feet in height is allowed from the front face of the residence to the rear property line. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security, pedestrian safety, to screen out undesirable views, or for other aesthetic reasons.

(iii) No barbed wire shall be permitted in a residential zone.

(3) Fence and hedge limitations for Non-Residential Zones:

(i) No fence or hedge in excess of four (4) feet in height is allowed between the back of the sidewalk and a parallel line set back thirty (30) feet from the front property line. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security, pedestrian safety, to screen out undesirable views, or for other aesthetic reasons.

(ii) No fence or hedge in excess of eight (8) feet in height is allowed from the thirty (30) foot setback line to the rear of the property. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security, pedestrian safety, to screen out undesirable views, or for other aesthetic reasons.

(iii) No barbed wire shall be permitted in front of the thirty (30) foot setback line. An exception may be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review Process if required for security.

(4) Prior constructing or installing a fence in excess of six feet in height, retaining wall exceeding two (2) feet in height, masonry wall, or any improvement located in the public right-of-way, owners and occupants should consult with the Building Official or City Engineer to determine if a building permit and/or encroachment permit is needed.

[History: formerly § 5.336, ORD. 234, 03/14/79; ORD. 313, 02/13/85; ORD. 550, 4/14/1999; ORD. 638, 12/14/05, ORD 662, 9/12/07; ORD 754, 1/13/16; ORD 766, 11/9/16; ORD 767, 12/14/16, ORD. 818, 2/14/24]

XIV. Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations

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Contents — Colma Zoning Code
Colma Zoning Code
  1. § 5.03
    Overview
    1. 5.03.020 Purpose.
    2. 5.03.030 Definitions generally.
    3. 5.03.040 General Prohibition.
    4. 5.03.050 Zones and Boundaries Thereof.
    5. 5.03.060 Zone Boundaries.
    6. 5.03.070 “G” Zone - Regulations Established.
    7. 5.03.071 “G” Zone - Permitted Uses.
    8. 5.03.072 “G” – Golf and Cemetery Zone – Development Standards.
    9. 5.03.080 Regulations Established.
    10. 5.03.081 Permitted Uses.
    11. 5.03.082 “R” - Residential Zone Development Standards.
    12. 5.03.090 Regulations Established.
    13. 5.03.091 “R-S” Zone - Permitted Uses.
    14. 5.03.092 “R-S” Zone Development Standards.
    15. 5.03.100 Purpose and Intent.
    16. 5.03.101 Definitions.
    17. 5.03.102 Permit Required.
    18. 5.03.103 ADU Density and Consistency.
    19. 5.03.104 ADU Process Time and Submittal Requirements.
    20. 5.03.105 ADU General Development and Operational Standards.
    21. 5.03.106 ADU Rental and Sale Limitations.
    22. 5.03.107 ADU Fee Requirements.
    23. 5.03.108 Conditions for Nonconforming Uses and Structures.
    24. 5.03.109 State Exempt ADUs and JADUs.
    25. 5.03.110 Number and Combination of State Exempt ADUs and JADUs…
    26. 5.03.111 State ADU Standards.
    27. 5.03.112 Non-State Exempt ADU Objective Design Standards.
    28. 5.03.113 Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
    29. 5.03.110 Purpose.
    30. 5.03.111 Standards for Permitting Large Family Day Care Homes.
    31. 5.03.120 Purpose.
    32. 5.03.121 Prohibition of Boarding Houses or Rooming Houses in S…
    33. 5.03.130 Regulations Established.
    34. 5.03.131 Purpose.
    35. 5.03.132 Permitted Uses.
    36. 5.03.133 “C” - Commercial Zone Development Standards.
    37. 5.03.140 Regulations Established.
    38. 5.03.141 Purpose.
    39. 5.03.150 Regulations Established.
    40. 5.03.151 Purpose.
    41. 5.03.152 "DR" - Design Review Combining Zone Design Standards …
    42. 5.03.153 Restrictions and Procedures Applicable to the "DR" - …
    43. 5.03.154 Objective Design Standards (ODDS) for Planned Develop…
    44. 5.03.155 Manufactured Single-Family Residential Objective Desi…
    45. 5.03.156. ADU (ODDS)
    46. 5.03.160 Regulations Established.
    47. 5.03.161 Purpose.
    48. 5.03.162 Permitted Uses.
    49. 5.03.163 "P" – Public Zone Development Standards
    50. 5.03.170 Regulations Established.
    51. 5.03.171 Permitted Uses.
    52. 5.03.172 "E" – Executive, Administrative Zone Development Stan…
    53. 5.03.180 Regulations Established.
    54. 5.03.181 Purpose.
    55. 5.03.182 Permitted Uses.
    56. 5.03.183 Establishment of PD – Planned Development Districts.
    57. 5.03.184 Conceptual Development Plan Required.
    58. 5.03.185 Conditional Uses.
    59. 5.03.186 Detailed Development Plan Required.
    60. 5.03.187 PD – Planned Development Design Standards.
    61. 5.03.188 Open Space and Density.
    62. 5.03.189 Amendment of Development Plan.
    63. 5.03.190 Development Schedule.
    64. 5.03.191 Revocation of Use Permit.
    65. 5.03.195 Purpose.
    66. 5.03.196 No Parking Standards Required for Housing Element Ove…
    67. 5.03.197 Purpose.
    68. 5.03.198 Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Incentives.
    69. 5.03.199 In-Lieu Fees and Impact Fees.
    70. 5.03.200 Housing Fund.
    71. 5.03.201 Purposes and Use of Housing Fund.
    72. 5.03.202 Affordability Requirement for Residential Development.
    73. 5.03.203 Exemptions.
    74. 5.03.204 Basic Requirements for Inclusionary Units.
    75. 5.03.205 Alternative Equivalent Actions.
    76. 5.03.206 Compliance Procedures.
    77. 5.03.207 Eligibility for Inclusionary Units.
    78. 5.03.208 Owner-Occupied Units.
    79. 5.03.209 Rental Units.
    80. 5.03.210 Delegation of Authority.
    81. 5.03.211 Minimum Requirements.
    82. 5.03.212 Adjustments, Waivers.
    83. 5.03.213 Enforcement Provisions.
    84. 5.03.215 Regulations Established.
    85. 5.03.216 Purpose.
    86. 5.03.217 Restriction Applicable to "F" Zone.
    87. 5.03.218 Regulations Established.
    88. 5.03.219 “T" – Transit Zone Development Standards.
    89. 5.03.220 Development Standards Applicable to All Zones
    90. 5.03.230 Purpose.
    91. 5.03.231 Applicability.
    92. 5.03.232 Parking Standards.
    93. 5.03.233 Calculation of Parking
    94. 5.03.234 Location of Required Parking.
    95. 5.03.240 Purpose.
    96. 5.03.241 Application for Use Permit.
    97. 5.03.242 Standards for Granting Use Permit.
    98. 5.03.243 Effective Date of Decision to Grant or Deny Use Permi…
    99. 5.03.244 Lapse of Use Permit; Extension.
    100. 5.03.245 Duration of Use Permit.
    101. 5.03.246 Revocation of Use Permit.
    102. 5.03.250 Purpose.
    103. 5.03.252 Application Process; No Public Hearing.
    104. 5.03.253 Tier 1 Temporary Uses.
    105. 5.03.254 Tier 2 Temporary Uses.
    106. 5.03.255 Required Findings.
    107. 5.03.256 Conditions of Approval.
    108. 5.03.257 Term; Extension.
    109. 5.03.258 Revocation.
    110. 5.03.259 Appeal.
    111. 5.03.260 Posting.
    112. 5.03.270 Purpose
    113. 5.03.271 Application for Variance.
    114. 5.03.272 Standards for Granting a Variance.
    115. 5.03.273 Effective Date of Variance.
    116. 5.03.280 Purpose
    117. 5.03.281 Application for Amendment.
    118. 5.03.282 Standards for Adopting Amendments to Zoning Ordinance.
    119. 5.03.283 Compliance.
    120. 5.03.290 Administrative Permits.
    121. 5.03.300 Purpose.
    122. 5.03.310 Purpose.
    123. 5.03.350 Minor, Short-term, and Temporary Uses.
    124. 5.03.351 Home Office Use – Purpose and Recitals.
    125. 5.03.352 Home Office Use – Scope; Prohibition.
    126. 5.03.353 Home Office Use – Zoning Clearance; Prohibited Activi…
    127. 5.03.354 Home Office Use – Zoning Clearance Process.
    128. 5.03.355 Home Occupation Use – Conditional Use Permit Required.
    129. 5.03.356 Home Occupation Use or Cottage Food Operation – Condi…
    130. 5.03.357 No Net Reduction in Housing Units.
    131. 5.03.358 Regulation of the Use of Personal, Medical, and Comme…
    132. 5.03.359 Restrictions and Landscaping Along El Camino Real.
    133. 5.03.360 Restrictions Applicable to Recreational Vehicles and …
    134. 5.03.361 Restrictions Applicable to Dumps.
    135. 5.03.362 Regulations Applicable to RMU Vendors.
    136. 5.03.420 Applicability and Purpose.
    137. 5.03.421 Definitions.
    138. 5.03.422 Basic Requirements.
    139. 5.03.423 Applicant Obligations.
    140. 5.03.424 Electronic Processing.
    141. 5.03.425 Application Review.
    142. 5.03.426 Administrative Use Permit.
    143. 5.03.427 Inspections.
    144. 5.03.428 Exemptions.
    145. 5.03.430 Purpose.
    146. 5.03.431 Applicability of Historic Design Review.
    147. 5.03.432 Definitions.
    148. 5.03.433 Historic Design Review Procedures.
    149. 5.03.434 Findings and Decision.
    150. 5.03.435 Conformance to Plans.
    151. 5.03.500.1 Purpose and Findings.
    152. 5.03.500.2 Definitions.
    153. 5.03.502 Removal or Alteration of Trees Without a Permit Prohi…
    154. 5.03.503 Decision Making Body.
    155. 5.03.504 Permit Procedures.
    156. 5.03.505 Exceptions.
    157. 5.03.506 Appeal .
    158. 5.03.600 Purpose.
    159. 5.03.601 Definitions.
    160. 5.03.602 Administration.
    161. 5.03.603 Interference with town employees, contractors or repr…
    162. 5.03.604 Public Tree Care.
    163. 5.03.605 Destruction of Public Trees Unlawful.
    164. 5.03.606 Exceptions.
    165. 5.03.608 Town Tree Master Plan.
    166. 5.03.608 Master Tree List.
    167. 5.03.609 Prohibited Trees.
    168. 5.03.700 Purpose.
    169. 5.03.701 Applicability.
    170. 5.03.702 Application Requirements.
    171. 5.03.703 Consideration of Request.
    172. 5.03.704 Notice of Decision.

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